Jamaican papers say Woolmer may have been strangled

Pakistan's World Cup coach Bob Woolmer may have been strangled to death, two Jamaican newspapers said, quoting unnamed police sources.

The Jamaica Gleaner said a "high-ranking police officer" had confirmed that fresh evidence has surfaced which suggested that Woolmer was strangled in his room at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel between Saturday night and Sunday morning.

According to the police officer, the 58-year-old Woolmer was found half naked in his room, partially wrapped in a towel, the newspaper said.

"A bone in the neck, near the glands, was broken, and this suggests that somebody might have put some pressure on it," the officer told the newspaper.

"We are now treating this as a homicide."

The Jamaica Observer also quoted unnamed sources close to the investigation as saying that bones in the lower part of Woolmer's face were broken, suggesting he had been strangled.

Woolmer died in hospital on Sunday after being found unconscious in his hotel room a day after Pakistan were knocked out of the World Cup following a shock defeat by minnows Ireland.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Owen Ellington, head of World Cup security here, however refused to confirm rumours of strangulation, the Gleaner said.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Mark Shields had said on Tuesday that an autopsy conducted on Woolmer's body by a government pathologist proved inconclusive as to the cause of death which was being treated as "suspicious."

Shields said the police were awaiting the results of the toxicology and histology analysis from Woolmer's tissue sample.

On Wednesday night, a press release from the Jamaica Constabulary Force director of communications, Karl Angell, said a second opinion was being sought on the autopsy.

"Following consultations today involving representatives from the Government of Jamaica and the police, a decision was taken to seek the opinion of a second pathologist," the release said.

Detectives also reviewed tapes from closed-circuit cameras at the hotel, which could give them clues as to who entered Woolmer's room during the period in question.

The Gleaner reported that members of the Pakistan team were interviewed on Wednesday by the police.

"It is now unclear whether the team will be allowed to leave on Saturday as initially scheduled," the paper said.

Pakistan, who were knocked out of the tournament after losing to the West Indies and Ireland, defeated Zimbabwe in their last group D match at the Sabina Park on Wednesday.